Switch lock for railways



April 23, 1935;

' L. J. COTTON .SWITCH LOOK FOR RAILWAYS Original Fil d Nov. 8, .1930.

455 J cvrra/V Patented Apr. 23, 1935 SVVETCH LOCK FOE. BAILWAYS Lee J. Cotton, Chicago, Ill.

l'tefilerl for abandoned application Serial No.

4%,320, November 8,

February 21, 1934;, Ser

6 Claims.

lhis invention relates to an improved switch lockior railways, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a lock for railway switches and similar devices which will comprise a self-contained locl:, eliminating locks and other appurtenances.

One of the important objects of this invention is the provision of a mechanism for use with a railway switch which will lock the switch lever in desired position either open or closed, and which can be made in duplicate for locking in both open and closed position, if desired.

Another important object of the invention is to provide in a railway switch lock or the like a key-operated locking mechanism which will positively eliminate any chance of accidentally leaving the device unlocked, and which will further be so constructed that the key cannot be withdrawn unless the apparatus is in locked position, thereby eliminating any possibilities of accidents or wrecks owing to open switches or to switches being inadvertently or maliciously thrown when left unlocked.

A still further important object of the invention is the provision in a switch lock for railways of a means which is absolutely fool-proof and also proof against tampering or the like, and which further will operate in any weather, not being subject to conditions of sleet, ice or snow which often cause great trouble and misfortune.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of the improved switch lock of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical view, partly in section, showing the interior construction of the device.

Figure 3 is another vertical view taken at right angles to the showing in Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a slight modification of the invention.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral i0 indicates generally the base of the improved switch locking device of this invention, having an integralupstanding casing l2 and also an integral flange I l spaced away from the casing and a sufiicient distance to allow of the dropping of a switch-operating lever thereinto. The switch-operating lever is 1930. This application ial No. 712,431

then adapted to be locked in position by means of a withdrawable latch bolt l8.

.The locking element itself forms the outer end of a member 53 which is mounted in a vertical position in the casing l2 and is slidably and pivotally supported on integral lugs 29 which ex tend sidewise into slots formed in the casing 32 for their reception. Y

The lower end of the member i8 is curved inwardly and slightly upwardly as shown at 26, this being adapted to cooperate with the cammed face of a plunger or weight 25 which is adapted to move vertically in the casing l2.

The upper end of the'slidable weight 26 is also camrned as shown at 28, and it will be evident that a downward movement of this weight will force the toe 2 5 of the member 18 inwardly, and somewhat downwardly causing this member to pivot about the points 2%, and allowing its upper rearwardly-fiared end to fit into the space provided by the cam face 28 of the weight 25.

In this way, the latch element l t is withdrawn allowing the switch-operating lever to be raised.

A look is countersunk into a suitable opening in the face of the plunger 25, and a key 32 is provided for operating the lock, the key itself sliding in a slot formed in the casing when the plunger drops or is raised.

The lock itself is provided with a retractable latch 36 best illustrated in Figure 3, which fits into a suitable opening 38 formed in the housing 52, this latch being spring-impelled forwardly so that when the plunger is raised, it will be held in raised position until the latch is again withdrawn by operation of the key.

In order to raise the plunger 26 after the same has been dropped, a treadle 49 is provided pivoted at 42 in the casing l2, and having an inner projecting end M which cooperates with the lower rounded end 55 of the plunger 26 as best shown in the dotted lines in Figure 3. 39 is of a well-known construction such that when the locking element 36 is in retracted position, the key cannot be turned and the slot 34 is of a width not much greater than the diameter of the key shank so that obviously the key cannot be withdrawn from the lock when the plunger is in dropped position.

A slight modification is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein a lock casing 50 is mounted directly r in the casing 52 of the apparatus, the lock 50 having a retractable latch 54 which operates in a suitable opening formed in the plunger 56. A weather guard 53 is provided for the keyhole of the lock 50. This eliminates any slidable motion The lock of the key in the casing, while at the same time providing all of the advantages of the first con struction, namely the retaining of the key in the lock until such time as the device has been properly secured.

It will be seen that herein is provided a lock for railway switches of the type commonly known as ground switches, which eliminates the use of the ordinary padlock, and forms a much more positively acting apparatus, and which, further, is entirely safe, as by its use is eliminated the possibilities of open switches.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than. as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A railway switch lock, comprising a housing associated with a switch lever, a recess in the housing for the reception of the end of the lever, a locking lug pivoted adjacent said recess for preventing unauthorized movement of the lever, and means for locking said lug in switch lever retaining position, said means comprising a gravity actuated plunger, means on the plunger for operating the lug, and further means on the plunger adapted to lock the same in position.

2. A railway switch lock, comprising a housing associated with a switch lever, a recess in the housing for the reception of the end of the lever, a locking lug pivoted adjacent said recess for preventing unauthorized movement of the lever, and means for locking said lug in switch lever retaining position, said means comprising a cam face on the lug, and further means adapted to lock the lug in position, said last-named means comprising a cammed weight operatively associated with the lug and a key-operated lock for maintaining said weight in looking position in the housing.

3. A railway switch lock, comprising a housing associated with a switch lever, a recess in the housing for the reception of the end of the lever, a locking lug pivoted adjacent said recess for preventing unauthorized movement of the lever, means for locking said lug in switch lever re- 'taining position, said means comprising a plunger, cammed faces on the plunger for operating the lug, and further means on the plunger adapted to'lock the same in position, said means comprising a key-operated lock.

4. A railway switch lock, comprising a housing associated with the switch lever, a recess in the housing for the reception of the end of the lever, a locking lug pivoted adjacent said recess for preventing unauthorized movement of the lever, and means for locking said lug in switch lever retaining position, said means comprising a gravity operated cammed weight, cammed faces on the lug adapted to cooperate with the weight, and further means on the weight adapted to lock the same in position, said further means comprising a key-operated lock, and means for returning the parts to normal locked position, said means comprising a manually operated foot lever.

5. A railway switch lock, comprising a housing associated with the switch lever, a recess in the housing for the reception of the end of the lever, a locking lug pivoted adjacent said recess for preventing unauthorized movement of the lever, and means for locking said lug in switch lever retaining position, said means comprising a weight loosely and slidably mounted in the housagainst said lug, means on the weight for operating the lug, and further means on the weight adapted to lock the same in position, said last-named means comprising a key-operated lock for maintaining said weight in raised position in the housing.

6. A railway switch lock, comprising a housing associated with the switch lever, a recess in the housing for the reception of the end of the lever, a locking lug pivoted adjacent said recess for preventing unauthorized movement of the lever, and means for locking said lug in switch lever retaining position, said means comprising a weight slidable in the casing, cam faces on the weight for operating the lug, and further means on the weight adapted to lock the same in position, said further means comprising a key-operated lock in the weight, said housing having a slot adjacent the weight for slidable reception of the key.

LEE J. COTTON. 

